Meet the opposition | Preston North End
As Swansea City prepare to visit Preston North End, we take a closer look at the Lilywhites.
What's their story?
Formed in 1880 Preston were among the founder members of the Football League and won the first two top-flight titles in 1889 and 1890. North End are also two-time FA Cup winners with the first of those completing a double in the maiden EFL season.
That spell proved to be a golden era for the Lilywhites and it is success they have not found easy to replicate during their long history.
The Deepdale club have spent large parts of the post-Millennium period in the second tier of the Football League but have never played in the Premier League since it’s formation.
The closest the club came to promotion was in 2001 and 2005, when they suffered play-off final defeats to Bolton Wanderers and West Ham United respectively.
How's their form?
Strong. Preston have made a fine start to the season having been close to relegation at the end of last term.
They have lost just two of their last nine games in the Championship, and sit in the play-off places having beaten Sheffield United and Southampton in their last two games.
Who's the gaffer?
Paul Heckingbottom. The former defender took over as North End boss following Ryan Lowe's departure in August 2024, having previously been in charge of Sheffield United, leading the Blades to the Premier League in 2023, but departing Bramall Lane with them sitting bottom of the top-flight in December of that year.
A 17-year playing career saw Heckingbottom have spells with Manchester United, Sunderland, Scarborough, Hartlepool, Darlington, Norwich, Bradford, Sheffield Wednesday, Barnsley, Mansfield, Gateshead and Harrogate before moving into coaching.
Having been born in Barnsley – and helping them beat the Swans in the 2006 League One play-off final as a player – he started his managerial career with his hometown club and he led them to more play-off success and a place in the Championship before an ill-starred spell with Leeds.
A stint in Scotland with Hibernian followed before returning to his native Yorkshire with the Blades, initially as under-23 coach, before stepping up in the wake of the exits of Wilder and Slavisa Jokanovic respectively.
He was handed the full-time reins in December 2021, leading them to the play-offs at the end of that season - where they lost to Nottingham Forest - before securing promotion a year later.
Who's the captain?
Midfielder Ben Whiteman has proved an impressive acquisition since his arrival from Doncaster in January of 2021 and took on the armband following Alan Browne's departure.
The former Manchester United and Sheffield United trainee made his senior bow for the Blades in 2014, and had loan spells with Mansfield and Doncaster before making his move to the latter permanent in the summer of 2018.
He wasted little time making a big impact at the Eco-Power Stadium, and he was named club captain at the age of just 23 such was his form and professionalism.
His showings put him on the radar of a number of Championship clubs, with Preston securing his signature.
A dynamic player with an eye for goal, he has been a real driving force for North End in time with the club, but he is currently sidelined by injury and Ali McCann has taken on the captaincy responsibilities.
Northern Ireland international McCann joined Preston in 2021, having come through the ranks with St Johnstone in Scotland.
He has made over 195 league appearances for the Lilywhites since making the switch to Deepdale, and was named club captain in the summer of 2024.
Who are the key men?
Lewis Dobbin
Lewis Dobbin is Preston's top scorer with three goals so far this season, and has also contributed two assists following his loan arrival from Aston Villa.
The Everton academy product made 20 senior appearances for the Toffees, scoring one goal, and had a loan spell with Derby during the 2022-23 season.
He joined Villa in the summer of 2024, and had stints on loan with West Bromwich Albion and Norwich City last term, before linking up with Preston this time round.
Harrison Armstrong
Midfielder Harrison Armstrong, who joined on loan from Everton in the summer, has made some eye-catching appearances in his short time at the club.
Armstrong spent the second half of last season on loan at Derby and the teenager scored his first senior goal when he found the net in crucial victory over Plymouth.
The 18-year-old has been with Everton since the age of five, and made his first-team bow at Tottenham last season.
He went on to feature in League Cup ties against Doncaster and Southampton, before starting an FA Cup win over Peterborough United shortly before his move to Pride Park.
Armstrong is an England Under-18 international and captained the side last term.
Lewis Gibson
Defender Lewis Gibson is in his first full season with Preston, having signed for North End from Plymouth in January 2025.
After initially being among the youth ranks at Newcastle, Durham-born Gibson made the switch to Everton in 2017 and spent six years with the Goodison Park club.
He had loan spells with Fleetwood Town, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Bristol Rovers, before being snapped up on a permanent deal by Plymouth following their promotion in 2023.
Gibson spent a season and a half at Home Park, before sealing his move to Deepdale.